If you need to know the distance of a property line, there are a number of ways to get this information, some are free and some may have a cost associated with it. Depending on how exactly you need the measurement to be, you may choose one of the following:
- Survey plan.
If you have a survey plan of the property from when you purchased it, this will show you the dimensions of the property and each property line. If you don’t have a survey plan, you can obtain one, for a small fee, from the Land Title and Survey Authority in British Columbia. Every property in the province has a Survey Plan registered on title, so obtaining one is fairly simple.
- City plans.
The municipality where the property is located has zoning maps and plats that will indicate the boundaries of a particular property.
- Existing conditions plan.
When land development plans are in process, a basic survey plan is the foundation for starting the development plan. Once the development plan is completed and approved for construction, the plan becomes known as the Existing Conditions Plan. This will define the property line dimensions.
- As-built drawings.
After construction is complete, an As-Built drawing is created showing exactly what was built so the municipality can confirm construction was done in accordance with the approved development permit plans. The As-Built drawings show the property line dimensions and boundaries.
- Hire a surveyor.
If the development land is not already developed, you may need to hire a land surveyor to determine where the property boundaries are located. The Survey Plan created will clearly identify the dimensions and locations of the property lines.
- Pacing the property.
This method is only useful for quick estimates and should never be used if someone wants to rely on the measurement. It is not an exact science and can be off slightly from the survey plan measurements. With this method, you would measure your foot and then step off the property from one end to the other. Multiply the number of steps by the size of your foot and you’ll have a general idea.
- Use a measuring wheel.
A measuring wheel is a tool similar to a measuring tape, but is digital. The wheel is placed at the corner of the lot and rolled to the other end of the property while the digital reader measures the distance. While this method shouldn’t be relied on for legal purposes, it is more accurate than the previous method of pacing the property.
- Locate the survey pins.
If you can find the survey pins, you can measure the distance between them to determine the distance. But be mindful that property pins are sometimes moved either because of damage or because they were knocked over, so they may not have been put back in the exact spot.
Some of the above methods are more precise than others. Depending on how exact you need to be with your measurement, it may be worth spending a few dollars to obtain the existing survey plan from Land Title’s or if needed, having the property measured by an expert.